Daylight loader for x-ray processor and the like

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a daylight loader having an opening in adjacent front and side walls. Each opening is covered by four interwoven pieces of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch being oriented in the direction of weave, and a fabric flap hinged to the top of the dark side of each opening covering the entire opening.

United States Patent 1191 [76] Inventor: Ronald Paul Layne, 233Greystone Ln., Rochester, NY. 14618 22 Filed: May 26, 1972 21 Appl.190.; 257,225

52 us. (:1. 95/1, 95/91. 511 1111. c1. 00311 17/00 58 Field of Search95/1, 91

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,314,352 4/1967 Grant 95/91X Layne DAYLIGHT LOADER For: X-RAY PROCESSOR'AND THE 1.11m

1451 Aug. 14, 1973 396,573 H1889 Johnson 95/! Primary Examiner-John M.Horan AttorneyT. B. Roessel Disclosed is a daylight loader having anopening in adjacent front and side walls. Each opening is covered byfour interwoven pieces of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch beingoriented in the direction of weave, and a fabric flap hinged to the topof the dark side of each opening covering the entire opening.

ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DAYLIGHT LOADER FOR X-RAY PROCESSORAND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relatesto daylight loaders for film processors, particularly dental X-ray filmprocessors and the like. Daylight loaders are simply light-tight boxeswhich are attached to or formed integral the input side of the filmprocessor. The operator puts his hands through two light-tight openingsin the processor, so that he can strip any protective covering from thefilm and insert the film into the processor without danger of exposingthe film.

One type of prior art daylight loader has fabric sleeves attached to thetwo openings. The operator pulls the sleeves up his arms in order togain entry to the daylight loader. Lighttightness is provided by thelength of the sleeve and the numerous folds in the slee e fabric, as thesleeves are pulled to or above the operators elbow. The principaldrawback of such loader is that once the operator puts one sleeve on, itis difficult to put the other one on, and occasionally assistance isrequired. Also, the sleeves hanging from the loader are often referredto as elephant trunks and do not present an attractive appearance.

Another type of loader employs an elastic diaphragm having a smallopening through which the operator puts his hands. The opening expandsas the hand is inserted so that the diaphragm grips around the wrist orforearm of the operator. One drawback of this diaphragm arrangement isthat, if the opening in the diaphragm is large enough to permit easyaccess of the operator's hands, it may not be light-tight, and,conversely, if the opening is too small for the operators hands, it willbe difficult to penetrate the diaphragm and, once penetrated, thediaphragm will be too tight for comfort.

The daylight loader of the present invention has each opening covered byinterwoven bands of one-way stretch fabric, and a fabric flap. Thisarrangement permits easy access through the opening and lighttightnessregardless of the size of the operators hand and forearm. In addition,the openings are provided in adjacent sides of the loader to reduce itslength.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be characterized inone aspect thereof by the provision of a daylight loader comprising alight-tight housing having two openings,-

preferably one opening being in each of two adjacent side walls of thehousing; each opening being covered by two vertical and two horizontalinterwoven bands of one-way stretch fabric, the stretch being orientedin the direction of weave; and .a fabric flap on the dark side of thehousing hinged to the top of the opening, the size of the flap beingsufficient to cover the opening.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION horizontal interwoven bands of one-way stretchfabric, wherein the direction of stretch is oriented in the direction ofweave.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a daylightloader having its access openings sealed by an easily penetrated covercapable of forming a light-tight seal around the hand of the operator,the cover being flush with the side of the loader and being pleasing inappearance.

These and other objects, advantages and charecterizing features of thepresent invention will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description thereof, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings depicting the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the daylightloader of the present invention shown attached to a film processor orthe like;

FIG. 2 is a view in section of the processor opening, taken along lines2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the loader opening taken along lines 3-3of FIG. 1, showing an operator's hand inserted through the opening; and

FIG. 4 is a front view of the loader opening showing the coveringdeformed as if a hand were inserted therethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG.1 shows the daylight loader 10 attached to the entrance side of a filmprocessor 12. It should be appreciated that the film loader can bemanufactured as a separate item and attached to the processor or can beformed integral the processor itself. While processor 12 may be any filmprocess ing apparatus, the loader of the present invention isparticularly useful in the processing of dental X-ray films and thelike, wherein the exposed film is held in the daylight loader while aprotective covering is removed and the film then inserted into theprocessor 12 for developing.

The loader is simply a light-tight housing having two openings 14 and16. While the openings may be both on the same side of the housing, itis preferred, for purposes of keeping the length of the loader as shortas possible, that the openings 14 and 16 be in adjacent side walls ofthe loader. The openings in this position also facilitate themanipulation of the film within the loader because the operator has hishands oriented at right angles.

The cover for each opening comprises four bands of interwoven stretchfabric indicated respectively at 18, 20, 22 and 24. Bands l8 and 22 arehorizontally oriented, while bands20 and 24 are vertically oriented,these bands being woven together in a simple' basket weave design. Band18, for example, extends over the upper portion of band 24 and under theupper portion of band 20.

The width of each band should be sufficient to cover at least one halfof the opening, but a slight overlap of the band widths is preferred toinsure that the vertical and horizontal portions together cover theentire opening.'Due to the double thickness provided by the interwovenbands, a band width of less than one half the opening will still act tomaintain light-tightness when a hand is inserted through the opening.However, this is not preferred.

Each band is made of a one-way stretch fabric. Either woven or needledfabric may be used, but it is important to the invention that thestretch of the fabric be in the direction in which the bands are woventogether. For example, the direction of stretch of horizontal bands 18and 22 is horizontal, while the direction of stretch of vertical bands20, 24 is vertical.

In addition to the cover formed by bands 18-24, FIGS. 2 and 3 show thatthere is aflap 26 of material on thedark side of each opening. This flapis suspended from adjacent the top of the opening and is of a sufficientsize to cover the entire opening. When a hand is inserted through theopening, this flap rides up on to the back of the hand as shown in FIG.3. The flap is carried down toward the opening when the hand iswithdrawn to help maintain the opening light-tight.

If a fist is not made when the hand is inserted or withdrawn through theinterwoven bands 18-24, or through any elastic diaphragm for thatmatter, the thumb tends to drop under the palm and move toward thelittle finger side of the hand. This causes the hand to form a concavetrough extending from the wrist and along the palm to the ends of thefingers. Since the material covering the loader openings cannot conformto the shape of this trough, light can enter the loader. The purpose,therefore, of flap 26 riding and overlapping the back of the hand is toblock any light entering through this trough.

An important feature of the invention as set out hereinabove is thatbands 20-24 are each elastic fabrics having a oneway stretch, the bandsbeing woven together in a simple basket weave design. This permits theindividual bands to expand in one direction and collapse in another, asthe hand is thrust through a loader opening. The collapsing of the bandsabout the hand makes for ease of entry through the opening, while thestretching of the bands aids in conforming the bands to the profile ofthe hand to maintain a light-tight sea]. This collapsing and expandingis illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the stretching of theband around thehand is indicated by the arrows.

While any suitable woven or needled elastic fabric with a one-waystretch may be suitable for use in the present invention, it should beappreciated that the fabric should be such that stretching the fabricdoes not cause the individual fibers to separate to such an extent thatlight is transmitted through the band. However, the double thicknessformed by weaving bands 18, 20, 22 and 24 together in a simple basketweave design adds a safety factor to insure that no light is transmittedthrough the covering of the loader openings when the individual bandsare stretched as a hand is inserted. it

has been found that a particular woven elastic fabric sold by WyomissingCorp. under their catalogue No. SP3446W has a weave sufficiently finefor purposes of the present invention.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention accomplishesits intended objects in providing a daylight loader which is relativelycompact and attractive, there being no unsightly sleeves hanging fromthe loader openings. The four interwoven bands of oneway stretch elasticfabric provides a closure for the loader openings which is easilypenetrated by the operators hand, and which forms a light-tight sealabout the hand. The use of the extra flap on the dark side of the loaderinsures that the opening is maintained light-tight as the operators handis withdrawn.

Having thus described the invention in detail, what is claimed as newis:

l. A daylight loader for film processors and the like comprising:

a. a light-tight housing having at least one access opening; and b. fourinterwoven band of one-way only stretch elastic fabric covering saidopening, said bands being interwoven in a simple basket-weave designwith each of said elastic bands having its direction of stretch orientedin the direction of weave. 2. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1,including a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said openinghinged to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of saidopening.

3. A daylight loader as set forth in claim I, wherein said housing has apair of said openings, one opening which a hand can be inserted, saidmeans comprising:

a. four bands of elastic one-way only stretch fabric, each of a lengthsufficient to extend across said opening and a width sufficient toextend across at least one half of said opening;

b. said bands being attached at their ends to said housing adjacent saidopening and interwoven across said opening in a basket weave wherein twoof said bands extend vertically and two horizontally with the stretch ofeach band being oriented in the direction of its weave; and g c. afabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said opening attached atone'end to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of saidopening, whereby said flap hangs down across said four interwoven bands.

1. A daylight loader for film processors and the like comprising: a. alight-tight housing having at least one access opening; and b. fourinterwoven band of one-way only stretch elastic fabric covering saidopening, said bands being interwoven in a simple basket-weave designwith each of said elastic bands having its direction of stretch orientedin the direction of weave.
 2. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1,including a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said openinghinged to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top of saidopening.
 3. A daylight loader as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidhousing has a pair of said openings, one opening in each of adjacentside walls of said housing.
 4. A daylight loader for film processors andthe like including a light-tight housing having at least one accessopening, means covering said opening through which a hand can beinserted, said means comprising: a. four bands of elastic one-way onlystretch fabric, each of a length sufficient to extend across saidopening and a width sufficient to extend across at least one half ofsaid opening; b. said bands being attached at their ends to said housingadjacent said opening and interwoven across said opeNing in a basketweave wherein two of said bands extend vertically and two horizontallywith the stretch of each band being oriented in the direction of itsweave; and c. a fabric flap of a size sufficient to cover said openingattached at one end to the dark side of said housing adjacent the top ofsaid opening, whereby said flap hangs down across said four interwovenbands.